The Jerusalem Post reports: “Israel and the US have the ‘difficult tasks ahead,’ of disarming Hamas and ensuring it no longer poses a threat to Israel while also rebuilding Gaza, US Vice President JD Vance told the press at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Jerusalem on Wednesday…

‘In the last year, we’ve had an unmatched alliance and a partnership with the United States,’ Netanyahu went on, saying that Vance had impressed him with his visit. ‘That is changing the Middle East, and it’s also changing the world.’

‘We are not an American protectorate,’ Netanyahu emphasized. ‘Israel will have the final say regarding her security.’ 

‘We don’t want a protectorate,’ Vance responded, noting that he is ‘optimistic that the ceasefire will hold.’…”